What is Craft?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Knownfactor, Feb 8, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Knownfactor

    Knownfactor Initiate (0) Feb 20, 2010 Colorado

    What is "Craft" in Craft Beer or Craft in general in any other industry?

    I had a customer at the restaurant i work at ask me this question and i actually had a hard time defining it.

    How would you define, explain this question? What is Craft, What is Craft to you?
     
  2. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    If someone asks me, which has only happened a few times, my answer is pretty much "beer that's made for the actual act of making beer and allows people to try beer styles that are otherwise neglected by the big brewers. Some stuff is creative and alot is really local. And almost always made in small batches compared to big breweries" That's usually the simplest explanation and allows people to ask follow up questions about styles, why big brewers neglect them, etc.

    We can discuss this for hours but when a BMC drinker or curious person asks I find it best not to bore them with details unless they ask for more. So I keep it short.
     
  3. JulianB

    JulianB Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2012 South Carolina

    What is love?

    Baby don't hurt me.
     
  4. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (1,998) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Marketing bollocks. Like innovation and passion.
     
    fmccormi likes this.
  5. tjensen3618

    tjensen3618 Savant (1,225) Mar 23, 2008 California

    Everybody defines it differently.
    I personally do not agree with the Brewers Association's definition.
     
  6. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,727) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Society

    marketing.
     
  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    craft beer: something hand-made with tender loving care; not mass produced. :slight_smile:
     
    JimmyW likes this.
  8. joeebbs

    joeebbs Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2009 Pennsylvania

    what is your definition of "mass produced"?
     
  9. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I'll keep it simple and say any of the major labels of Bud, Miller or Coors is mass-produced.
     
  10. joeebbs

    joeebbs Initiate (0) Apr 29, 2009 Pennsylvania

    So the fact that I can get a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Anchor Steam and Boston Lager in all 50 states doesn't make them mass produced?
     
    Brew33 likes this.
  11. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,291) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Okay, let's add beer flavor into this craft definition too. Light American lagers have a flavor that seems to be enjoyed by the masses. The craft brewer's intent to provide interesting flavors from various other style recipes have to be a part of the definition.
     
  12. ESeab

    ESeab Initiate (0) Jan 3, 2013 New Jersey



    "small, independent and traditional", and gives a production size of less than 6,000,000 US beer barrels (700,000,000 L) a year and can not be more than 24% owned by another alcoholic beverage company that is not itself a craft brewery
     
  13. emannths

    emannths Initiate (0) Sep 21, 2007 Massachusetts

    "Craft beer" is just a way of saying "good beer" without the overt judgmental overtones.
     
    patto1ro likes this.
  14. rlcoffey

    rlcoffey Initiate (0) Apr 20, 2004 Kentucky

    Distribution != production.

    My defintion of craft, which has nothing (and everything) to do with beer is: the synthesis of engineering and art. Brewers are either industrial brewers or craft brewers. The line can be hard to define exactly, but I know it when I see it.
     
  15. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    "Craft" is not an honorific term- it just means 'not those guys' when you boil it all down. All other ways of defining it tend to come up short.
     
  16. mecummins

    mecummins Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2012 Illinois

    I think the simplest way to define craft would be "Beer made by people, not numbers."
     
  17. ThirstyFace

    ThirstyFace Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2013 New York

    Let this be the official answer. Anything turgid or elitist can stuff it.
     
  18. ThirstyFace

    ThirstyFace Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2013 New York

    My 2 cents, it's a retarded discussion. It's the equivalent of music fans asking "what is indie"...who gives a fuck.
     
  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.